Thursday, February 17, 2011
A Bronx Tale
The movie A Bronx Tale is a great story that tells a lot about how one's surroundings and world can greatly influence who they are. The neighborhood that Calogero is from was most likely formed when a group of Italians moved in and the generations of their families to follow continued to stay there and never leave. It is inevitable to have different groups within a neighborhood, because not every person is the same, and similar people will always stick together. One gang most likely formed a long time before Sonny's gang came along and the men kept the business in their families and continued the tradition. The people who chose to live an honest life were probably always on the outside since the formation of the neighborhood. Living next to Sonny's bar but having a dad uninvolved with Sonny's men and activities, Calogero was thrown in the middle of these two lifestyles within his world. Having to balance being an honest man and being a part of Sonny's gang is most likely something that many men before him had to deal with. In the end, Calogero turned out being a good kid and was extremely lucky that he did since he was a part of both Sonny's group and the group his father wanted him to be in. I feel that this scenario is nothing like my like or neighborhood at all. First off, my neighborhood is very diverse and has families of all races, ethnicities, and religions. Nobody "runs" the neighborhood and has more control than anyone else, and everyone is mainly shaped by their families and personal lives, not by what goes on in the neighborhood. I know personally that I am shaped more by my family, friends, activities, and religion than my neighborhood, even though many of my friends to live or have lived in my neighborhood.
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I loved A Bronx Tale and I agree with what you say about Calogero becoming a good kid in the end. When it comes to the neighborhood stuff, you need to understand that times have changed and people accept one another a lot better than they ever did. Back then, immigrants rushed into the states and because they didn't know english, tended to live near each other. That is exatly what happened in the Bronx. It was a mainly Italian neighborhood. Then we see that African Americans began moving in and this caused some tension between the two groups. Now move forward 50 years into the future and here we are. Most people don't have a problem living next to someone of a different race or ethnicity.
ReplyDeleteYou're right about how C had to balance between two different groups and had to be two differenet people because of those groups, but in the end it bennefitted him because he became one great guy and a mixture of those two people. And you're right there aren't neighborhoods around here that are like that because most people except others for who they are.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting that you noticed that people seem to be influenced by their neighborhood and that Calogero's neighborhood is very close knit. I have nearly no interaction with my immediate neighbors and I think for that reason I see them as very different people. I do not feel influenced by them at all.
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